India's diplomacy faced giant test in 2025

NEW DELHI: (Dec 31) For India's diplomacy, 2025 was a giant test in many ways as it had to navigate the geopolitical implications of the worst military conflict in decades with Pakistan, US President Donald Trump's punitive tariffs and increasingly troubled relations with Bangladesh.

As the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in April killing 26 innocent people triggered global outrage, India displayed a steely resolve in combating cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, telling leading global capitals it has a right to respond.

Following the terror strike, India announced a series of punitive measures against Pakistan including suspension of the 65-year-old Indus Water Treaty with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that "water and blood cannot flow together".